The Esterification of Jatropha Oil Using Different Short Chain Alcohols to Produce Esters to be Used as Biodiesel Fuel

Esters of jatropha oil with short chain alcohols were prepared and evaluated as biodiesel fuel. The alcohols used include methyl, ethyl, propyl, and butyl alcohols. The volumetric ratio of alcohol to oil was 2:1 and the esterification was carried out at the boiling point of the used alcohol. Sulfuric acid was used as a catalyst at a concentration in the reaction mixture equivalent to 0.17 molar H+. The properties of the esters relevant to its use as a fuel, such as the calorific value, flash point, and viscosity, were compared to those of standard diesel fuel. The results have shown that the calorific value of the prepared esters were very close to that of standard diesel fuel. The flash points were higher than that of diesel fuel and it increases as the chain length of the alcohol increases. Also, the pour points were lower than standard diesel fuel.